🇺🇸 GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS

Gloucester/Cape Ann

New England's rugged coastline serving powerful Atlantic swells

SMALL

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Small 2.2ft surf — but short 8s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — but swell direction is marginal for this spot — cross-onshore wind affecting quality

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's SMALL

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 96° — close to but not perfectly aligned with ideal 45°. Spot will work but not at its best.

Swell Period

9s — short-period swell. Waves will have less power than a true groundswell.

Wind

8mph cross-shore — not ideal but surfable if wind is light

Tide

Rising tide — workable window

Season

October is peak season for this spot

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

2.2ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

Mid-period

Wind

8mph

CROSS-SHORE

Water

56°F

3/2 wetsuit

Live Buoy 44013

1.6ft

81 min ago

Tide

MID-TIDE · RISING

0.17ft

Next high: in 5 hr 7 min

Swell Direction

35%

Wind Direction

45%

Primary Swell

1.2ft @ 7.8s

ESE 114°

Secondary Swell

0.8ft @ 3.3s

ENE 60°

10 Day Outlook

2.3ft

TODAY

Oct 29

(10s)

2.4ft

TMRW

Oct 30

(8s)

2.4ft

SAT

Oct 31

(5s)

2.2ft

SUN

Nov 1

(9s)

1.1ft

MON

Nov 2

(9s)

1.8ft

TUE

Nov 3

(9s)

3.1ft

WED

Nov 4

(10s)

2.4ft

THU

Nov 5

(10s)

3.4ft

FRI

Nov 6

(6s)

6.5ft

SAT

Nov 7

(7s)

Best this week: WED Nov 4 — 3.1ft

Best next week: THU Nov 5 — 2.4ft

Incoming Swell Events

Day 10

moderate

Swell building to 6.5ft @ 7s

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)1.7ft

ICON (35%)1.5ft

GFS (20%)1.3ft

Model confidence95%

Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS

About

Cape Ann's granite-lined coast offers some of Massachusetts' most consistent surf, with exposed beaches and rocky points catching northeast swells year-round. Good Harbor Beach and the reefs around Bass Rocks provide powerful beach breaks and reef setups that work best in fall and winter. The working fishing village of Gloucester adds authentic New England character to any surf trip.

The Break

Good Harbor Beach delivers consistent beach break peaks with both lefts and rights, working on all tides but best at mid to high. The southern end near the rocky point offers more protection and better shape on overhead days.

Ideal Conditions

Northeast to east swells 4-8ft with offshore northwest to west winds, mid to high tide for beach breaks, low to mid tide for reef spots

Best Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best months highlighted · Current: Oct

Trip Planner

Cape Ann Surf Weekend

Weekend · 3 Days

Friday

Drive up from NYC (5 hours) or fly into Boston and rent a car (45 minutes to Gloucester). Check into accommodation and scout Good Harbor Beach for evening glass-off session. Grab dinner at The Crow's Nest or Virgilio's for Italian.

Saturday

Dawn patrol at Good Harbor Beach or Wingaersheek Beach depending on tide and swell direction. Mid-morning check Bass Rocks reefs if conditions are clean. Afternoon session at Back Shore spots like Emerson Point. Evening visit to Cape Ann Brewing Company.

Sunday

Early session at your best spot from Saturday. Late morning explore Rockport village and Bearskin Neck. Final surf check before driving back, or catch an evening flight from Boston. Stop at Woodman's in Essex for famous fried clams on the way out.

Complete Cape Ann Surf Experience

Full Week · 7 Days

Day 1

Arrive in Gloucester, settle into accommodation. Afternoon orientation session at Good Harbor Beach. Evening explore downtown Gloucester and visit the iconic Fisherman's Memorial statue. Dinner at Tonno for fresh seafood.

Day 2

Dawn surf at Good Harbor. Mid-morning explore the Back Shore spots including Long Beach and Emerson Point. Afternoon session at best conditions. Evening sunset at Stage Fort Park.

Day 3

Check Wingaersheek Beach at low tide. Explore the Essex salt marshes and nature trails. Afternoon session at Coffins Beach if swell is pumping. Dinner at Causeway Restaurant.

Day 4

Full day dedicated to Bass Rocks area - surf the reefs and points depending on swell and tide. Visit the Cape Ann Museum between sessions to learn about local maritime history. Evening at Gloucester House Restaurant on the harbor.

Day 5

Day trip to nearby Manchester-by-the-Sea and Singing Beach. Surf session there if conditions align. Explore Rockport village, artists' studios, and Motif Number 1. Afternoon session back at Good Harbor.

Day 6

Chase the best conditions across all Cape Ann breaks. Visit Halibut Point State Park for dramatic coastal views. Afternoon at Niles Beach or other hidden reef spots. Final sunset session.

Day 7

Morning glass-off session at your favorite discovered spot. Pack up and explore any missed locations. Grab lunch at The Lobster Pool. Depart with stops at scenic overlooks along Route 127 for final coastal views.

Local Knowledge

Water temperatures range from 38°F in winter to 65°F in summer - invest in a good 5/4mm or 6/5mm wetsuit with boots, gloves, and hood for cold months

Parking can be extremely limited at Good Harbor Beach in summer, arrive very early or surf shoulder seasons when beaches are less crowded

Respect the local fishing community - Gloucester is a working fishing port, not just a surf destination, and ocean access is shared with commercial operations

Check Bass Rocks reefs only with experience and proper booties - sharp granite and sea urchins make these spots hazardous for beginners

Nor'easters and hurricane swells bring the biggest waves but also dangerous conditions - check forecasts carefully and never surf alone in storm swells